Golf practice device

ABSTRACT

A golf practice device is provided for use in perfecting a golf swing which includes a substantially rectangular planar base having affixed thereto a turf-like mat, wherein said base and said turf-like mat include a plurality of linearly disposed ball supporting means; and wherein said base has a leg extending substantially perpendicularly from one side of said base; having affixed thereto a track to retain a vertically adjustable indicating member which provides linear and arcuate motion substantially along a longitudinal axis of the perpendicular extension.

United States Patent 1191 Stanley June 3, 1975 [54] GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE3,638,950 2/1972 Hyotlaine 273/183 B [76] Inventor: Carlyle EugeneStanley, 7075 Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Li i g Falls ChurchAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Fidelman, Wolffe and Leitner [22] Filed: Nov.28, 1973 211 App]. No.: 419,803 ABSTRACT A golf practice device isprovided for use in perfecting a golf swing which includes asubstantially rectangular [52] 273/186 273/183 planar base havingaffixed thereto a turf-like mat, [5 I] Int Cl A63) 69/36 wherein saidbase and said turf-like mat include a plu- [58] Fie'ld 187 195 rality oflinearly disposed ball supporting means; and 3 wherein said base has aleg extending substantially perpendicularly from one side of said base;having affixed thereto a track to retain a vertically adjustable [56]References Clted indicating member which provides linear and arcuateUNITED STATES PATENTS motion substantially along a longitudinal axis ofthe 3,079,152 2/1963 Cushing 273/188 R perpendicular extension.3,513,387 5/1970 Mayeda 273/186 R X 3,586,335 6/1971 DAntonio 273 195 A9 Claims, 7 Drawlng Flgures 1 GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE INTRODUCTION Thisinvention relates to practice devices used to improve a golf swing.

It is generally recognized that there are basic rules which must befollowed by a golfer in addressing and hitting a golf ball. Primarily,the golf club must be swung in a manner such that the face of theclubhead contacts the golf ball with the club face surface perpendicularto the line of flight of the ball at the moment of impact. Additionally,each swing must be so controlled as to be reproduceable thereby allowingrepetitive accuracy and ability to control the flight of the golf ballwith the golf club.

One major factor which facilitates the swing of the golf club enablingthe club face to contact the ball perpendicular to the intended line offlight involves insuring that the stance assumed by the golfer inaddressing the golf ball is the same each time the golf club is swung.Normally the golfer assumes a squared" stance, which means that for aright-handed golfer the inside of the left heel will be in substantialalignment with the center of the ball to be driven. Other variableswhich must be taken into consideration include length of the club, typeof club, height of golfer, and terrain, to name only a few.

An additional factor which must be considered in insuring that the clubface contacts the golf ball perpendicular to the intended flight path ofthe golf ball, requires that a particular path be followed by theclubhead in both the backswing and the downstroke.

It is generally the case that some individuals have more athleticability than others, that is, they are more able to coordinate mentalthought processes with muscle control. Coordination generally can bedeveloped and improved with constant coaching. However, something ascritical as a golf swing must be as accurate and as reproduceable aspossible. The best manner of insuring such accuracy and reproduceabilityis generally through constant practice. Periodic review and correctionby a professional golfer or instructor is usually required to insurethat the individual practice the swing in the correct way for asufficient period of time to be able to swing correctly and accuratelyin the absence of coaching.

If the golfers stance is improper, or if his body motions areuncoordinated, the swing path will vary so that the golf club head willstrike the ball improperly. The effect usually is that the face of thegolf club is canted or angularly disposed with respect to the intendedline of flight of the golf ball. This result usually occurs when thegolfer swings so that his swing path is from the inside, thus causingthe ball to hook to the left away from the golfer. On the other hand, ifthe swing path followed by the club head is from the outside in, theball will have a tendency to slice to the right. Accordingly, to drivethe ball accurately along the intended line of flight, it is necessarythat the golf club head be properly positioned with respect to the ballat the moment of impact.

To assist the golfer in developing the requisite body movements into ahabit which becomes automatic whenever he addresses the ball andexecutes a swing, it is desirable that the golfer have some type of aguide which will enable him to reproduce his swing so that his bodilymovements are substantially identical. The instant invention aids insolving the foregoing problems and substantially reduces the need forprofessional coaching.

Various practice devices have been proposed within the past for helpingthe golfer perfect his swing. Many of them involve large and complicatedmechanisms and none of them have afforded the combined advantages ofsimplicity, portability and ease of use as that achieved by the instantinvention.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a practicedevice which compels the golfer to assume a proper stance in addressingand hitting the ball.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a practice devicefor golfers which may be used indoors or outdoors. An additional objectof the present invention is to provide a practice device for golferswhich incorporates a means for evaluating whether or not the golf clubis swung in a prescribed path thereby resulting in a proper contact withthe ball.

A further object of this invention is to provide a golf practice devicewhich may be easily disassembled, transported, and readily stored in aminimum of space.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a golf practicedevice in which the clubhead path indicating means need not bereadjusted or reset after each practice stroke.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly, the golf practice device of theinstant invention comprises a substantially rectangular planar basehaving a perpendicular leg extending therefrom and having mountedthereon a shock absorbing turf-like mat made of material resembling thegrass surface normally encountered in golf courses. Protruding throughthe upper surface of the artificial turf-like mat are a plurality ofmeans to support a golf ball. e.g., golf tees. There are generally anumber of these tees arranged linearly parallel to the longitudinal axisof the substantially rectangular planar base. Perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the rectangular base is an extension of the basewhich provides a means to contain a vertically adjustable indicatingmember which is vertically adjustable and provides linear and arcuatemotion in a retaining means perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofthe substantially rectangular planar and base.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of constructioncombinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will beexemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims. For a fullerunderstanding of the nature and objects of the invention referenceshould be had to the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view of the principalembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the principle embodiment illustrating the meansof alignment and registry;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the principle embodiment taken along the lines33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end view of a perpendicular extension taken along the lines44 of FIG. 1 showing a vertically adjustable indicating member and ameans to retain said member wherein said member is folded aside topromote portability;

FIG. is a lateral view of the perpendicular extension of FIG. 1illustrating the vertically adjustable indicating member; and

FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment of a vertically adjustableindicating member and a means to retain said member; and;

FIG. 7 shows an example of a ball supporting means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The golf practice device of thepresent invention offers a unique and novel practice aid for the golfer.It provides an easily understandable indication of errors andinaccuracies in a golfers swing and provides a means of correcting saiderrors.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1, wherein 1indicates the substantially rectangular planar base having aperpendicular leg 9 extending therefrom and having mounted on said basea turflike mat 2 of slightly lesser dimensions and resembling naturalgrass. The turf-like mat contains apertures 3 corresponding to similarapertures located in the substantially rectangular planar base andcoaxial therewith.

The artificial turf-like surface may have an inner edge cut in an are 4which parallels the curved path followed by the golf clubhead during thebackswing and downstroke prior to impact with the ball. It has beenfound that this aids in controlling the backswing of the golfer so thatthe golf club head follows essentially the same path that it is intendedto follow in the downstroke. The golfer therefore retains much morecontrol over the golf club than is otherwise possible.

The holes in the base 5 provide a means to attach the substantiallyrectangular base to the ground when the device is being used outdoors.They may comprise various types of pins, studs or other attaching means.A means of alignment and registry 6, 7 and 8 is provided and exemplifiedby the squared tooth arrangement which allows insertion at numerouspositions of the perpendicular leg 9 to the substantially rectangularbase I. The point of adjustment is determined by the stance of thegolfer which in turn depends on the length and type of club, height ofthe golfer, etc. For example. a wider stance would be required for awood than for an iron since a wood has a longer shaft and the device canbe so adjusted to compensate therefor.

The square-teeth arrangement 6, 7 and 8 providing for the alignment andregistry allows the device to be separated readily into two easilyportable pieces which can be stored in a small area or transported withease. The perpendicular extension 9 houses a retaining means 10 havingmounted therein a vertically adjust able indicating member I1 providinglinear and arcuate motion which can be extended in a vertical directionto correspond in height to the golfers hip and can be adjusted in alinear direction to be placed at the side of the right foot of thegolfer extending upwardly parallel to the golfers right leg, forexample, a tubular telescoping member in a guide or track mounted toprovide arcuate motion. Any improper motion of the hip, that is improperbreaking or swaying at the hips, will be indicated by arcuate movementof the vertically adjustable indicating member in the retaining means.The member will be moved to the side and remain there to enable thegolfer to take note and correct the error in motion, prior to asuccessive practice swing.

FIG. 5 illustrates a lateral view of the perpendicular extension 9showing a retaining means 10 for the vertically adjustable indicatingmember 11 which retains said member by a means 12 which may be anysuitable means of providing for linear, lateral and arcuate motion ofthe indicating member such as that provided by a ball joint, swiveljoint or a socket joint in a track-type guide.

FIG. 4 is an end view along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 illustrating theindicating member 11, and the retaining means therefor 10, which isattached to the base 9 by any suitable means, such as rivets, screws,adhesives, BIC.

The base of the teaching device may be rigid or semirigid material suchas plastic, rubber, wood, wood composite, etc. to provide a substantialdegree of rigidity. Generally, the substantially rectangular portion isat least 1 foot in width and approximately at least 3 feet in length.The perpendicular extension will generally be at least 3 feet in lengthand any convenient width, for example 6 inches. The rectangular base ofthe instant invention is of sufficient size to allow printing theinstructions directly on the base to facilitate use in the proper mannerand aid in convenience.

The turf-like mat can be raised, co-planar, or recessed relative to thebase and may be made of any suitable material which provides a relativedegree of shock absorbancy, such as rubber, synthetic matting, foam orcarpet but is preferably of a material which simulates an actual golfcourse, such as artificial turf.

The ball supporting means (FIG. 7) may be any suitable means, stationaryor movable, semi-flexible or flexible attached to or placed on theturf-like mat. Said ball supporting means generally comprise tees whichmay be imbedded in the turf-like mat or inserted through the holescoaxially aligned in the rectangular base and the turf-like mat.Alternatively, the support means may be retained so as to provide anarcuate mo tion along the club path or line of flight of the ball toindicate direction of club swing.

A plurality of support means are aligned parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the planar base comprising a principal support or tee for theball which is to be driven; one about 6 to l8 inches, preferably aboutl2 inches to the right, i.e., behind" the principal tee on thelongitudinal axis, and two to the left of the principal tee, the firsttee being from about 4 to about 8 inches, preferably about 6 inches. Thesecond tee to the left being from about 7 to about l2 inches, preferablyabout 8 inches to the left of the principal tee. All four of the teesare colinear and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the planar base.

The perpendicular leg has attached therto a means to retain thevertically adjustable indicating member. For example, a partiallyenclosed track which may retain a sliding member such as a ball orcylinder which has the indicating member attached thereto. Theindicating member may be any convenient shape such as tubular and ispreferably a telescoping tubular member which can be compressed andfolded aside to promote protability (FIG. 4). Similarly an audiblesignal device, such as a bell. buzzer, chime, etc., may be used tosignal the golfer that he has contacted the vertical indicator and movedit from the vertical starting position.

It is apparent that preparing and labelling both sides of thesubstantially rectangular planar base makes the invention reversible,i.e., it can be used by right and left handed golfers.

As indicated in the drawings there are four apertures linearly arrangedin the turf-like mat corresponding to four holes in the rectangular baseor substrate wherein golf ball supporting means, e.g., golf tees, areforced through the base and protrude up through the apertures in theturf. It has been found that rubber tubular tees (FIG. 7) having anintegral circular base similar to those found at a driving range areparticularly well suited. The ball to be driven is placed on the maintee. The golfer adjusts the perpendicular extension 9 to accommodate thewidth of his stance such that the vertically adjustable indicator can beraised parallel to the side of his right leg stopping at his hip aftersliding it to a position adjacent the middle of his right foot when heis maintaining a comfortable stance depending upon club type, clublength, height of the golfer and personal preference. With the rightfoot pointing toward the arrows at the junction of the rectangular baseand the perpendicular extension, and the left foot pointed toward thearrows at the lower left corner of the rectangular base with the insideof the left heel in a direct line with the principal tee the golferaddresses the ball.

With his weight evenly distributed between his right and left legs thegolfer draws the club back in a straight line tipping or touching tee A.This initiates a low takeaway which will force the shoulders to turnproperly, prevent the golfer from picking the golf club head up orprematurely breaking" at the wrist. After raising the clubheadsubstantially while maintaining the left arm straight and shifting theweight to the right leg, the backswing has been completed and thedownstroke is begun.

The inner curved surface of the turf-like mat encourages the club headto be brought down in a normal inside-out pattern and after comingthrough tee A and contacting the ball at the principal tee the golferthen must follow through to contact either tee B or tee C with the golfhead as he follows through after having hit the ball. This insures theproper use of the legs in that the weight has shifted from the right legto the left as the club is swung providing proper extension of the armsto the correct position and forcing the golfer to keep his head down andhis right shoulder down as he follows through the principle tee to tee Bor C. In view of the variation in length of arcs described in using along club as opposed to a shorter club; tee B will be removed if tee Cis struck on the follow through, when a wood is used; and similarly teeC will be removed if tee B will be struck on a follow through when aniron is used. If the golfer, during the course of his swing, breaksimproperly at the hips and sways as opposed to pivoting when the weightshifts from the right leg to the left leg he will necessarily move thevertically adjustable indicator to the side which will be clearly shownsince after it is moved to the side it maintains that position untilplaced again in a vertical position. This may be reinforced by anaudible signal such as a hell or buzzer. Additionally, the amount ofsway is noted by the distance which the tubular member is moved to theside.

it has been found that following the directions repeatedly results inappreciable improvement in the reproduceability of an accurate golfswing. Repeated correct use of the golf teaching device forces muscularcoordination so that the golfer must execute a good golf prescribed As aresult, the club head follows an accurate presecribed path leading toproper impact with the ball in the absence of any coaching. Thisrelieves the golfer of mental stress, anguish and apprehension generallyencountered in his attempts to remember all that he has been toldregarding breaking at the wrist; keeping his head straight; shifting hisweight as he follows through; drawing the club head back slowly;following through completely; and keeping his head down to watch theball. All of the foregoing is accomplished by doing, not by saying, andthe golfer, through little mental and physical coordination, is providedwith an excellent golf swing. Additionally, expert golfers can use sucha teaching device to correct errors which may develop during latterportions of their golfing career. This device acts as a constant checkand reinforcement to indicate correctness and accuracy of a golf swing.

It is easily seen from the foregoing that the mechanics ofa proper swingare taught by doing and not by coaching thereby insuring a proper swingin the absence of any necessity to remember a multitude of pointsindependently. The golf teaching device of the instant inventionembodies and combines all of the necessary elements to insure a goodgolf swing and forces the proper coordination thereby eliminating muchof the mental confusion associated with learning to play golf.

What is claimed is:

l. A golf practice device for use in perfecting a golf swing comprisingin combination: a base having affixed thereto a turf-like mat, whereinsaid base and said turflike mat include a plurality of linearly disposedball supporting means, and wherein said base has a leg extendingsubstantially perpendicularly from one side of said base; having affixedthereto a vertically adjustable indicating member which provides linearand arcuate motion substantially along a longitudinal axis of theperpendicular extension.

2. The golf practice device of claim 1, wherein the ball supportingmeans are tees disposed linearly substantially along the longitudinalaxis of the base and protrude above the turf-like mat.

3. The golf practice device of claim 2, wherein the turf-like matresembles naturally occurring grass.

4. The golf practice device of claim 2, wherein said base is planar andsubstantially rectangular.

5. The golf practice device of claim 1, wherein the verticallyadjustable indicating member is a telescoping tubular member and whereinthe means to retain said vertically adjustable indicating member is atrack affixed to the perpendicular leg substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of said leg; wherein said track permits linear andarcuate motion of said vertically adjustable indicating member.

6. The golf practice device of claim 5, wherein the means to providelinear and arcuate motion of the vertically adjustable member in saidtrack is a ball-andsocket type joint.

7. The golf practice device of claim 5 wherein said leg extendingsubstantially perpendicularly from one side of said base is co-planarwith said base.

8. The golf practice device of claim 1, wherein said base includes ameans of attachment to the ground to provide increased stability thereofwhen used out-ofdoors.

9. The golf practice device of claim 8, wherein said means of attachmentcomprises pegs cooperating with apertures in said base.

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1. A golf practice device for use in perfecting a golf swing comprising in combination: a base having affixed thereto a turflike mat, wherein said base and said turf-like mat include a plurality of linearly disposed ball supporting means, and wherein said base has a leg extending substantially perpendicularly from one side of said base; having affixed thereto a vertically adjuStable indicating member which provides linear and arcuate motion substantially along a longitudinal axis of the perpendicular extension.
 1. A golf practice device for use in perfecting a golf swing comprising in combination: a base having affixed thereto a turf-like mat, wherein said base and said turf-like mat include a plurality of linearly disposed ball supporting means, and wherein said base has a leg extending substantially perpendicularly from one side of said base; having affixed thereto a vertically adjuStable indicating member which provides linear and arcuate motion substantially along a longitudinal axis of the perpendicular extension.
 2. The golf practice device of claim 1, wherein the ball supporting means are tees disposed linearly substantially along the longitudinal axis of the base and protrude above the turf-like mat.
 3. The golf practice device of claim 2, wherein the turf-like mat resembles naturally occurring grass.
 4. The golf practice device of claim 2, wherein said base is planar and substantially rectangular.
 5. The golf practice device of claim 1, wherein the vertically adjustable indicating member is a telescoping tubular member and wherein the means to retain said vertically adjustable indicating member is a track affixed to the perpendicular leg substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said leg; wherein said track permits linear and arcuate motion of said vertically adjustable indicating member.
 6. The golf practice device of claim 5, wherein the means to provide linear and arcuate motion of the vertically adjustable member in said track is a ball-and-socket type joint.
 7. The golf practice device of claim 5 wherein said leg extending substantially perpendicularly from one side of said base is co-planar with said base.
 8. The golf practice device of claim 1, wherein said base includes a means of attachment to the ground to provide increased stability thereof when used out-of-doors. 